Winemaker's Notes:

The Terra d'Oro 2010 Deaver Zinfandel has a deep garnet color with lifted aromas of clove, allspice and cracked white pepper. The palate is focused with crisp and juicy layers of ripe blackberry, plum and cinnamon and a lingering baked cobbler flavor on the finish. The briary tannins and baked spice components add complexity to this bold wine and support a great balance of power and restraint.

For a zesty pairing, serve this wine with a roasted guinea hen or a juicy ribeye steak.

About Terra d'Oro:

For more than 150 years, fortune seekers have been lured to California's rugged Sierra Foothills. Though they once came for the gold, these days they come for the wine—Terra d'Oro, to be more specific. Handcrafted from some of Amador County's most historic vineyards, Terra d'Oro wines are rich indeed, full of the character and intensity that perfectly captures the essence of this "Land of Gold."

Winemaker's Notes:

This white Rhone blend displays varietal characteristics of Marsanne and Viognier; vibrant floral aromas of citrus blossom and jasmine are followed by elegant flavors of ripe stone fruit, hints of pear, pineapple and honey overtones. A wine of excellent balance and complexity, the 2010 Treana White will age beautifully over the next decade.

Additional wines from Treana Winery:

About Treana Winery:

Treana symbolizes a trinity of natural elements - the sun, the soil, and the ocean - the elements that make Paso Robles and the rest of the Central Coast a prime area for premium wine grapes.

The Hope family began planting vineyards in the area in 1978. Two decades of experience has taught them not only how to grow the finest quality wine grapes, but has also shown them the tremendous potential of the region.

Formerly, the Hopes sold wine under the Hope Family label directly from the winery's tasting room. Beginning with the 1990 vintage, the Hope ranches became the sole source of fruit for Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon. In 1996, they founded Treana Winery after years of hands-on experience in viticulture and winemaking. Today, the Hopes cultivate mature vineyards of the varietals best suited to their area; Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre and Merlot.

About Wente Vineyards:

Wente Vineyards is California's oldest family owned and continuously operated winery. Founded in 1883 by C. H. Wente, the winery is now managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. The winery farms nearly 3,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, and Arroyo Seco, Monterey appellations, two premier Central Coast winegrowing regions.

Family owned and operated for over 120 years, the fourth and fifth generations are committed to producing wines of distinguished character and excellence at an affordable price.

Winemaker's Notes:

This Riesling has an unbelievable sense of balance, opening up with white peach, honeysuckle and a beautiful lift from deeper mineral/slate notes. It passes across the palate with wonderful acidity and texture, finishing with a lovely attack of granny smith apple, mandarin orange, and persimmon. If you like Thai food, then this wine is for you!

My Notes:

About Efeste:

Wine monitoring, not wine making. Terrior and a minimal approach make the best wine. We work primarily with the old vines, bringing forth maturity and concentration while maintaining an elegance. Native fermentation encourages lovely earth tones without eclipsing the fruit that is unique to the vineyard, letting the fruit speak for itself. Not unlike art, where beauty and excitement are found in the unique natural abberations. We encourage character. Great wines have personalities.

Efestç, pronounced F-S-T is an acronym for Daniel & Helen Ferrelli – Patrick Smith – and Kevin & Angela Taylor. Daniel, a second generation Italian had been making wine in his garage forever,passing on the tradition of his family to his son-in-law Kevin Taylor. Daniel and Patrick met through business and their friendship blossomed through sharing their passion for wine. One evening Daniel was making dinner for his family at the Taylor house and invited Patrick too. A discussion of Kevin and Daniel’s wine making hobby came up. Patrick knew of some people in the wine industry and, why not start a project together!

They met with Chris Upchurch and Jay Soloff of DeLille Cellars and both decided to come on as consultants and Efestç was born. With a love for all wines but strong interest in Australian wines they took a trip there to discover what made the wine so unique. The Spirit of Australia was discovered and returned were three friends and the idea, not to take yourself too seriously, enjoy your family, friends and anyone else that would like to join you in a glass of wine, breaking of bread and a good laugh

Winemaker's Notes:

Pale golden color with oily, filling, yellow fruit. The palate is bone dry but the luscious roundness makes it appear much more mouth-watering and full. There is a lingering presence of lychee fruit, slate, Earl Gray tea, soft vanilla, sage, and balanced acid. Very powerful and beautiful at the same time.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Chehalem:

About Chehalem:

With two vineyards on either end of Chehalem Ridge and one in the Dundee Hills, Chehalem is dedicated to reflecting as purely as possible what the vineyard has produced. With minimal processing and without compromising great fruit, Chehalem wines promise good ageing but are very drinkable young. Production quantities of all Chehalem wines are limited, to assure ultimate winemaking control.

Winemaker's Notes:

Garnet in color, with notes of tart cherry pie, complexed by earthy, forest floor on the nose. Soft silky tannins are complemented by flavors of cherries, raspberries and cherry gumdrops. This is a vintage that Pinot purists will love, exhibiting all the grace, earth and fruit that Pinot Noir shows when grown in the right place and handled with care by the right winemaking team.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Dobbes Family Estate:

About Dobbes Family Estate:

Dobbes Family Estate is the pinnacle of Joe Dobbes' winemaking efforts, hinting at the decades of experience behind it. The opulent and age-worthy wines are produced from premier vineyards in Oregon's Willamette and Rogue Valleys. Though a small-town boy raised in Willamette Valley, Joe Dobbes' wine calling originated far from his home country. Stints in the Nahe and Burgundy regions provided Joe with a solid foundation in the Old World of winemaking before returning to the U.S. and eventually beginning Joe Dobbes Wines in 2002. The estate vineyards cover some 214 acres in Willamette Valley and, in addition, Joe
works closely with a number of elite Oregon vineyards to release single-vineyard wines and masterful cuvées under three labels - Dobbes Family Estate, Jovino and Wine By Joe.

About Pacific Rim:

Riesling, simply, is the most versatile, complex and food-friendly of all the noble grapes. if you enjoy inspiring your palate, then Riesling is your ideal wine. No other varietal so purely expresses terroir. Washington's Columbia Valley - home of Pacific Rim - provies the ideal soils and climate for growing Riesling. Purity is at the core of Pacific Rim's winemaking philosophy. They exclusively use stainless steel tanks, allowing the true character of Riesling to speak for itself, they do not use malolactic fermentation and their wines are fermented only with native yeasts. Pacific Rim produces 10 different Rieslings from bone dry to sticky sweet, and Riesling represents 95% of all the wines they produce. Pacific Rim is an Organic and Biodynamic certified winery.

Winemaker's Notes:

Dark ruby red in color. Aromas of blackberries, plums and blueberries with hints of black pepper. on the palette, fresh red berry fruit flavors with subtle and
elegant oak characters.

The 2009 Merlot is hand-harvested fruit from
our Veramonte Estate vineyard hillside
plantings in Casablanca. We implement
aggressive canopy management, that results in
ripe and polished fruit with a long finish.

About Veramonte:

Veramonte represents a return to Agustin Huneeus' Chilean roots. When he spearheaded development of the Veramonte Estate in 1990, there were less than 100 acres of grapevines planted in the Casablanca Valley.

The coastal mountain ranges surrounding the Casablanca estate create a unique terroir with a diversity of microclimates. The valley floor's cool climate is reminiscent of Carneros and ideal for growing premium Chardonnay. The foothills are warmer, akin to the more Northern reaches of the Napa Valley. Here, the climate is more suited to varieties like Carmenëre, the lost Bordeaux grape that has become Chile's citizen and the basis of Primus, our racy, exotic Chilean blend.

Using the latest viticultural technology developed in California, rootstock has been matched to each vineyard block and clone. Vertical trellising and dense vine spacing balance growth and fruit production. Veramonte's Casablanca vineyard produces significantly lower yields than other grape growing regions in Chile, resulting in grapes with more intensity and concentration.

Recognizing that the region also had potential as a tourist destination for its proximity to Santiago, Huneeus began to plant the estate and in 1995, constructed the first Napa Valley style hospitality center in Chile. The first wines were released in 1996.

Winemaker's Notes:

A golden yellow colored wine. On the nose it is fresh, intense and complex, where mineral aromas predominate. Elegantly complemented by hints of honey and citrus fruits that evoke a smooth maturity with a balanced acidity. This Chardonnay has a toasted finish.

My Notes:

Additional wines from Tabali:

About Tabali:

The winery started its vineyard plantings in 1993 in the exciting Limari Valley, in Northern Chile. Its closeness to the Atacama Desert, the proximity of the Pacific Ocean (just 29km), the clear, pure skies, hot days and fresh nights, result in an exceptional terroir for the elaboration of premium and super premium wines.

At Tabali winery they are totally committed to crafting unique wines with distinct regional character and Limari expression. They are passionate about producing the highest quality wines by carefully balancing all elements, growing healthy vines, a careful selection of grapes and ultimately the best winemaking techniques. Their young and enthusiastic team is dedicated to producing wines that wine lovers around the world can taste and enjoy.

Additional wines from Apothic:

About Apothic:

More than 800 years ago, vintners blended and stored their most coveted concoctions in a mysterious place called Apotheca. In late 2005, a Master Winemaker envisioned an epic red wine combining Old World traditions of blending while realizing a markedly New World style. Thus began the path that led his protégé, winemaker Boyd Morrison, to select grapes from California's bountiful vineyards for this new blended red. Morrison was inspired to blend spicy Zinfandel, with smooth Merlot and lush, dark Syrah to create Apothic Red.